The local sightseeing tour in Waldlaubersheim takes in the old school, the village oak, the historic castle courtyard, the stone cross, St Martin’s Church, the Stumm organ, the former smithy and the former synagogue, as well as the Domberg dome, the Jewish cemetery and the Unterzunft Bridge. The selection brings together buildings, religious sites and other features of the village. This makes it possible to explore Waldlaubersheim’s history at several stops rather than reducing it to a single monument.
Synagogue and cemetery: two places of Jewish remembrance
The former synagogue is a simple rubble-stone building with a pitched roof and round-arched windows; it is located near St Martin’s Church. A commemorative plaque dating from 2006 and local cultural events recall Waldlaubersheim’s Jewish heritage. The events programme may vary. In addition to the building’s architecture, remembrance is also in focus: the building points to its former use, while the plaque and events acknowledge the memory of the village’s Jewish history.
The Jewish cemetery on Horetberg is also one of the features on the tour. It is about 1.5 kilometres from the village centre and was established around 1800. Stones from 21 individual graves and two double graves remain; inscriptions are visible on more than half of them. Visitors should treat the cemetery with respect. Unlike the former synagogue, the focus here is on the graves and their still-visible inscriptions. Together, the two stops offer different insights into the village’s Jewish history.
Bad Kreuznach as a wider destination
For a broader regional perspective, the wider destination of Bad Kreuznach offers further historic sites and activities. The Bridge Houses in Bad Kreuznach were built from 1480 onwards due to a lack of space. The half-timbered buildings stand on pillars of the old Nahe Bridge, which was built around 1300. The bridge and houses therefore date from different construction phases: the bridge is older, while the houses built on it came later.
Since 1985/86, the museums of the city of Bad Kreuznach have been housed in the listed former Bangert estate, which is set in a historic park. The Rock Hermitage in Bretzenheim is also a destination of cultural and historical interest: the place of worship, carved entirely into the rock, probably originated in prehistoric times and was repurposed in the early Christian period. It can be viewed from the outside all year round without a guided tour. Access to the rock dwelling is currently not possible due to a rockslide. In Windesheim, the orgel ART Museum is a musical instrument museum unique of its kind in Germany.
Trails and other regional highlights
In Bad Sobernheim, the 3.5-kilometre barefoot path leads to the Nahe, with clay treading pools, an agility course and various types of surface. It is mentioned as a summer leisure activity. Those interested in hiking trails can explore the Hahnenbachtal Tour in the Kirner Land, which is certified as a Dream Loop trail. In 2012, it took first place in the day tours category of the “Germany’s Most Beautiful Hiking Trails” competition. The Salinental between Bad Kreuznach and Bad Münster is a unique cultural landscape steeped in history.
For questions about stays, accommodation and bookings, as well as leisure activities, wellness, wine and cuisine in the Naheland region, contact the tourist information offices of the municipal associations and towns in the district, or Naheland Touristik in Kirn. The footpath to the Rhineland-Palatinate Open-Air Museum is signposted from Bad Sobernheim station and takes about 25 minutes. These regional examples offer a range of points of interest, while the tour through Waldlaubersheim focuses on local history and the two places of Jewish remembrance.
Discover more destinations: Dörrebach.
Go to the wider travel overview: Stromberg.
